Who needs to escape the country when we have the fabulous West Country on our doorstep?
To help you make the most of the region we’ve put together this travel guide, providing some great ideas on trips to the region’s top attractions and destinations.
You can avoid the busy roads and take the train. We’ve a map with bus links, and to help you get the best prices, we’ve highlighted some great deals in the area.
Download the leaflet in Adobe PDF here (590Kb)
Fantastic destinations by Train and Bus in Devon & Cornwall
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
An incredible range of wildlife and prehistoric mammals that have been brought back to life with the aid of the latest in modern animatronics.
www.dinosaur-park.com
Minack Theatre, Penzance
The most famous cliffside theatre in Britain, overlooking the spectacular panorama of Porthcurno Bay.
www.minack.co.uk
The Hurlers, Minions
The Hurlers are located on the west side of the village and are a unique Bronze Age Monument (c.1500 BC) consisting of a set of three standing stone circles.
www.minions-cornwall.co.uk
Tamar Valley Discovery Trail
One of the UK’s most scenic train journeys which goes from Plymouth to Gunnislake calling at Bere Alston, Bere Ferres, Calstock and Gunnislake.
Try the 30-mile route – or part of it at least – on foot and catch the train back.
www.tamarvalley.org.uk or www.carfreedaysout.com
Paignton Round Robin Trip
Take the Paignton to Dartmouth Steam Railway, then the boat up the River Dart to Totnes and a bus back to Paignton. Passes through some great scenery and offering three different modes of transport. Round Robin tickets are available covering steam trains, boat and bus.
www.paignton-steamrailway.co.uk or http://www.riverlink.co.uk/
Sharpham Vineyard and Cheese Dairy, Totnes
A thousand-year-old, five hundred acre farm and vineyard, it produced some award-winning wine last year.
www.sharpham.com
Other fanstastic attractions include:
Miniature Pony Centre and Animal Farm – Newton Abbot -
www.miniatureponycentre.com
Paignton Zoo - www.paigntonzoo.org.uk
Adventure Parks in Crealy – Exeter - www.crealy.co.uk
Babbacombe Model Village – Torquay -
www.babbacombemodelvillage.co.uk
Living Coasts Museum – Torquay - www.livingcoasts.org.uk
National Marine Aquarium – Plymouth - www.national-aquarium.co.uk
St Michael’s Mount - www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk
Newquay Zoo - www.newquayzoo.org.uk
National Maritime Museum – Falmouth - www.nmm.ac.uk
St Mawes Castle – Truro - www.english-heritage.org.uk/stmawes
Truro Cathedral - www.trurocathedral.org.uk
Pendennis Castle – Falmouth - www.english-heritage.org.uk/pendennis
Exe Estuary Circular - Take the train between Exeter and Exmouth then a ferry to Starcross and train back to Exeter.
Carbis Bay – St Ives
Lost Gardens of Heligan – St Austell - www.heligan.com
Saltram House – Plymouth - www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Knightshayes Court – Tiverton - www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Kents Cavern Prehistoric Caves – Torquay -
www.kents-cavern.co.uk
The Tarka Trail to Braunton Burrows – cycle hire at Barnstaple station - www.devon.gov.uk/tarkatrail
The Eden Project - St Austell - www.edenproject.com
Fal River Cruises – Falmouth – to Trelissick Gardens - www.falriverlinks.co.uk
Buckfast Abbey – via South Devon Railway - www.buckfast.org.uk
Buckfastleigh Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary – via South Devon Railway - www.ottersandbutterflies.co.uk
Bodmin and Wenford Railway - www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk
Babbacombe Cliff Railway - www.torbay.gov.uk/index/leisure/beaches/cliffrailway
The St Ives Bay Line– Great Scenic Railway – the journey itself is worth the trip.
Eggesford and the walks in the Forestry Commission area - www.forestry.gov.uk
Ask at your local staffed station about our convenient joint train and attraction tickets. For bus timetable information call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.org.uk.
Discounted travel package to Isles of Scilly
Take a relaxing break to these spectacular Isles with our great value travel package, including train travel and helicopter/ferry travel from Penzance. For example prices from Plymouth by ferry start at £89 Standard Return. Get more information on the Isles of Scilly here.
Cornwall Tourist Pass
The Cornwall Tourist Pass is a discount card enabling the holder and up to 4 other people to get discounts on entry to attractions and money off meals and accommodation. To find out more about the pass visit Cornwall Tourist Pass.
Devon and Cornwall Railcard
Local residents can save 1/3 on travel in the region for a whole year with a Devon and Cornwall Railcard, for just £10,discounts apply to most Standard Class off-peak train tickets across Devon and Cornwall and can be used on First Great Western, South West Trains and Cross Country Trains services. One accompanying adult also receives one-third off their ticket and you can take up to four accompanying children (aged 5-15) for a flat fare of £1 each (£2 Day Ranger tickets).
For more details, and to apply, download and fill out the form below for the Devon and Cornwall Railcard and hand in at your local staffed station with a form of identification proving your residence in Devon, Cornwall or the Iscles of Scilly.
Download the Devon Railcard leaflet in Adobe PDF (61Kb)
Download the Cornwall Railcard leaflet in Adobe PDF (60Kb)
Devon and Cornwall Goldcard
If you live and travel by train regularly in the area, buy an annual season ticket and it will give you the same benefits as a Devon and Cornwall Railcard at no extra cost!
Special train ticket deals for Devon and Cornwall
Devon Day Ranger / Cornwall Day Ranger
Enjoy a day of unlimited off-peak travel in Devon or Cornwall (including Plymouth) – hop on and off where you like at your convenience. Just £10 adult, £5 child. Railcard discounts available.
Freedom of Devon and Cornwall Rover
Enjoy unlimited off-peak train travel, available for 3 in 7 days: £40 adult, £20 child, or 8 in 15 days: £60 adult, £30 child.
Ride Cornwall
Enjoy a day of unlimited off-peak bus and train journeys across Cornwall (including to or from Plymouth): £10 adult, £7.50 child, £20 family.
Looe Valley Explorer
Enjoy one day’s unlimited travel on the Looe Valley Line and Western Greyhound’s bus route 573, linking Liskeard, Looe and Polperro. Just £3.50 adult, £1.50 child.
Group discount – GroupSave
Groups of three or four can travel for the price of two adults. Up to four additional children travel for just £1 each return. Available on Cheap Day Returns and Saver tickets. The group must contain at least one adult. Call us for details of discounts for groups of ten or more.
Uses latest train information provided by National Rail Enquiries.
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